Death Extinguishes a Promising Optiven Talent

Around the month of October 2019, Optiven placed an advert on the dailies, seeking to fill 30 new marketers’ job positions. Out of this advert, our Human Resource shortlisted 60 young Kenyans for interview. Among these was a lady who had very impressive academic qualifications.

A holder of a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management and Enterprise Management from JKUAT; an A- (minus) KSCE grade from Mbooni Girl’s High School; and a very positive attitude. A lady who evidently seemed to be full of life.

I am always passionate about our drive towards creating over 30, 000 jobs by the year 2030 and that is why I enjoy participating in our recruitment process. What struck me most about her during this interview was her self-confidence, smart personality which made me see a great sales person who would easily fit into the position at hand.

She expressed herself very well; no wonder all the three panelists at the interview rated her at 90%. She was one of the right persons for the job.

And so, on January 13, 2020, this lady joined the Optiven team, and straight into a newly created special squad, the Battalion Team, which I have directly been managing and training since then.

For a period of 4 months, I trained her, together with her colleagues. Now, cohorts always have their top performers on various categories, and this one has been performing highly on almost all categories. Be it diligence, discipline, prompt reports, name it.

Her name; Grace Mwikali Ndetu. Death though is so cruel. And so untimely too. Death takes away at a time when you least expect it. But death also snuffs out some of the best. Sadly for this case, death has now taken away a very young and promising soul. Death has snatched away the young and very talented life of Grace. A 26 years old who had so much ahead of her life.

Diligent and Modest

I recall Grace as an employee who was always the first one to volunteer to answer to questions during our regular drills. I still recall this very wonderful presentation that she recently made about Optiven Products. This is usually a normal practice at Optiven.

Her diligence during her brief but rich stint at Optiven was top notch. She was also extremely honest, modest and reported to work very early.

She also fitted so well with Optiven culture and quickly joined the praise and worship team that is in charge of Optiven’s morning prayers. She became a lead singer within the few month that she joined. And everybody could tell that her vocals were a top talent.

View her singing here

And now, the entire Optiven family will truly miss her. I will personally miss the positive attitude that she exuded, and her prompt daily reports too. I received her last report on May 15, 2020, which she filled to report that she will not be able to join the staff Zoom meeting as she was unwell.

After hearing of her demise, I went back to my phone and re-read this report and truly felt sad that she is no more. This young lady has taught me to serve the Lord more dedicatedly, to work for God, to keep doing good in preparation of eternity.

Her Legacy

Grace has left a strong praise and worship team at Optiven that will certainly and posthumously look up to her for inspiration. Her soprano tunes will keep ringing in our minds many years to come. Her confidence and zeal for the job; her respect for everyone whom she came into contact with, will keep inspiring us to be more reverential.

She has also reminded us, although in a very harsh way, that life is a gift from God. And though we now mourn and feel sad, we encourage ourselves with His word, that; “the LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” Psalm 34:18. We also pray, that God, who certainly knows why He has called Grace to his own at this very early days of her life and career, will rest her soul on the bosoms of the heavenly angels.

As we mourn you Grace Mwikali, here are a few lines as I bid you farewell:

Time is too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love, time is
Eternity – Henry Van Dyke

Thoughts by

George Wachiuri: A Leading Entrepreneur, a Published Author, Philanthropist, Youth Empowerment Enthusiast, a Family man and CEO of Optiven Group

Welcome To My Blog

George Wachiuri is the CEO of Optiven Limited. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He holds a Masters’s degree in Business Administration (University of Nairobi), and a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing option) Degree from University of Nairobi.

He is a Certified Public Accountant – CPA (K) and is a former Lecturer at Daystar University. His entrepreneurial spirit developed early, and was awarded the Entreprenuer of the year 1997 by the University of Nairobi. He has over 21 years working experience.